All Blacks coach Steve Hansen put his faith in flying winger Waisake Naholo for the Rugby World Cup

Highlanders wing Waisake Naholo limped off the field with a fractured leg during his test debut against Argentina in July but has made a remarkable recovery from injury and was named on Sunday in the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup squad.

The Waisake Naholo storyline seems too crazy to be true. 

When Naholo suffered a small fracture in his fibula bone during his test debut against Argentina six weeks ago, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen shook his head and said the try-scoring machine's chances of making the 31-man World Cup squad to travel to Britain appeared shot.

Then Naholo, just as he did for the Highlanders when he used his guile and speed to bamboozle opponents to score 13 tries, did something unexpected.

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He made a beeline for his homeland of Fiji, where he sought traditional medical treatment, put his faith in the power of positive thinking and proved to the All Blacks he should be fit to play their third pool match against Georgia in Cardiff on October 3.

"I am not sure if that made a difference or not," Hansen said in reference to the Fiji treatment. "But we just stayed with our plan. He is still on track - in fact he is probably 10 days ahead of what we initially thought."

Ben Smith, left, glances across to rookie wingers Waisake Naholo and Nehe Milner-Skudder who were named on Sunday in the All Blacks squad to contest the Rugby World Cup.

Asked about the treatment in Fiji, Naholo, having said he had also placed his trust in the All Blacks' medical staff, said: "They are all the same, they all helped.

"It was just massage and some traditional leaves that they used (in Fiji)."

The fact selectors Ian Foster, Grant Fox and Hansen are prepared to name Naholo, whose form with the Highlanders impressed so much they got NZ Rugby to help dig him out of a contract with French club Clermont Auvergne, among their four outside backs says it all.

All Blacks wing Waisake Naholo fractured a leg in July but has made a remarkable recovery and on Sunday was named in the 31-man World Cup squad.

Dane Coles makes a break to score a try against the Wallabies at Eden Park.

Codie Taylor performs the haka before his side's clash with Argentina in Christchurch in July.

Veteran All Blacks hooker Keven Mealamu will retire after this year's Rugby World Cup.

Wyatt Crockett makes a break against France at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

Charlie Faumuina will be on the plane bound for England in September after being named in the All Blacks' 31-man Rugby World Cup squad.

All Blacks prop Ben Franks passes the ball during a training session in Auckland.

All Blacks prop Owen Franks on the rampage against the Wallabies at Eden Park.

Tony Woodcock scored a try in the last Rugby World Cup final and will be back in black for the All Blacks in this year's tournament.

Brodie Retallick has every reason to smile after being confirmed in the All Blacks' 31-man squad for the Rugby World Cup.

Luke Romano charges forward against Argentina during The Rugby Championship earlier this year.

All Blacks lock Sam Whitelock is wrapped up by the Wallabies in Sydney.

All Blacks loose forward Sam Cane hits the weights.

All Blacks loose forward Jerome Kaino lets fly with a pass during a training session in Auckland.

Inspirational All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw will add to world record test appearances during the Rugby World Cup.

Liam Messam of the All Blacks takes a selfie on his phone during a training session at Eden Park in Auckland.

Kieran Read scores a try against Argentina during The Rugby Championship in Christchurch earlier this year.

Some strong form for the All Blacks earlier this year helped Victor Vito cement his spot in the Rugby World Cup squad.

Star halfback Aaron Smith's place in the Rugby World Cup squad was never in doubt.

TJ Perenara will back up first-choice halfback Aaron Smith at this year's Rugby World Cup.

Tawera Kerr-Barlow was a surprise inclusion in the All Blacks' 31-man World Cup squad after the national selectors opted for three halfbacks.

Beauden Barrett breaks the tackle of Leigh Halfpenny of Wales during last year's end of season tour.

A return to form for the All Blacks earlier in the year was enough for first-five Dan Carter to book his spot on the plane to Europe.

Colin Slade has been included in the 31-man All Blacks squad due to his ability to cover multiple positions.

Malakai Fekitoa is surrounded by canary yellow jerseys during last year's clash with the Wallabies in Brisbane.

Ma'a Nonu is the form second-five in world rugby at the moment after some sterling performances in the black jersey this year.

Veteran centre Conrad Smith will make his final appearance for the All Blacks during this year's Rugby World Cup.

Code-hopping superstar Sonny Bill Williams will get the chance to put his offload skills to good use at this year's Rugby World Cup.

The find of the season, Nehe Milner-Skudder's inclusion in the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup squad was never in doubt after two superb performances against the Wallabies.

It hasn't been Julian Savea's best year in the black jersey but All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is a fan and has included him in his Rugby World Cup squad.

Ben Smith would have been one of the first names on the list for this year's Rugby World Cup.

There is risk in carrying an injured player, but Hansen said the 24-year-old would effectively miss just one match because he wouldn't have been expected to play in the second pool match against Namibia as it is just four days before the Georgia game.

"What are the rewards of taking Waisake? Well, he is a try-scoring machine, he has X-factor and he brings something to the team that others in the group don't bring," Hansen said.

"We can't win this World Cup by just having the ordinary, we have got to have something different and he provides that.

"We just feel Waisake has played better throughout the year."

Shoehorning the Sigatoka-born Naholo, who will join other Fijian pace merchants such as Josevata Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu in representing the All Blacks at a World Cup, has resulted in some high-profile casualties, notably wings Charles Piutau and Cory Jane and fullback Israel Dagg.

"Israel and Cory have been really hampered this year by injuries have probably missed out because we think Waisake is a better footballer," Hansen explained.

The decision to list Nehe Milner-Skudder, Julian Savea and Ben Smith as back-three options was termed a "no brainer".

They were not the only ones forced to suck the bitter pill of disappointment; first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga and lock Jeremy Thrush will feel the hurt more than most.

Sopoaga, like Piutau, played a blinder in the win against the Springboks in Johannesburg a month ago. Playmaker Sopoaga, who displayed steely nerves in his debut at Ellis Park, was overlooked for the more experienced Dan Carter, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade.

Hansen noted Sopoaga had placed immense pressure on Carter to hold his spot and the veteran playmaker had responded with a complete performance against the Wallabies to retain the Bledisloe Cup in Auckland.

"The guy that was probably under the most pressure at the point (after the Jo'burg test) was probably Dan. And he has come out and said 'okay I can do the job, too'."

 - Stuff

Next All Blacks story:

Toby Robson: Lima Sopoaga's omission from All Blacks World Cup squad is hard to fathom

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